What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison	Bath
People
Population	2,680Highest	1,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH	48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH
	Madison and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%	21.3%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Madison and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bath and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	2.4%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Bath and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH	$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH	$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH	$1,438±$309Lowest 4% below NH
	Madison and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Lowest 39% below NH	$4,413Highest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%	5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.1%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bath and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Madison School District	Bath School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.